a wind instrument used in the Swiss Alps, consisting of a very long tube of wood or bark with a cornet-like mouthpiece
Word origin
C19: from German Alpenhorn Alps horn
alpenhorn in American English
(ˈælpənˌhɔrn)
noun
a long, powerful horn of wood or bark, with a cupped mouthpiece and a curved bell at opposite ends, used by Swiss herders and mountaineers
Also called: alphorn
Word origin
[1860–65; ‹ G, equiv. to Alpenalps + Hornhorn]This word is first recorded in the period 1860–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Paleolithic, blind spot, calibrate, monism, raider